Roller curler



1111162, 1970 A. N. D'ELIA ET AL 3,515,851

ROLLER cunLEn Filed Sept. 22, 1966 United States Patent O1 hee 3,515,851Patented June 2, 1970 U.s. C1. 219-222 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE ,This invention relates to a hair curler comprising an vouterelectrically :non-conductive housing including a sleeve portion disposedat its lower end, an insert of refractory material disposed in thehousing, a heating coil in the insert, connection means for connectingthe heating coil to a source of power electrically operatively connectedto the heating coil, a portion of the connection Imeans being disposedwithin the sleeve portion, and thermostatic control means disposed inthe housing and electrically operatively connected to the heating coilfor controlling the amount of electrical power passing to the heatingcoil.

A cosmetic appliance and more particularly to an electrically heatedhair curler.

Various typesof roller curlers have been devised for luse in settinghair. Many of these devices employ configurations and/or prongs aboutwhich the hair is entrained.

It has been found, however, that when roller curlers are used forobtaining hair settings, especially for straight hair styling,application of heat is often desirable. One form of roller curler forhair previously employed was designed so that the hair curler could beheated by boiling in water, after which the heated curler was then usedin setting the hair. This is a time consuming and unhandy procedure dueto the fact that the heated curler is o-ften difficult, distasteful orpainful to handle and therefore must be allowed to cool suiiciently toallow for the touching thereof by the user thus reducing the effectiveoperating temperature of the curler. However, the optimum temperaturefor use in setting the hair is in the order of 145 to 160 F. which maybe somewhat distasteful to the touch, but when entrained in the hair and`insulated thereby from the skin is unobtrusive. To this end, the ypresent invention has for its object the provision of a hair curler thatmay be electrically heated and is so arranged that for a predeterminedperiod after the curler has been subjected to electric heating, theouter surface thereof is not heated so that the curler is completelycomfortable for handling in use when setting the hair.

In carrying out the invention, the hair curler employs an insert of arefractory material such as ceramic, porcelain, or the like, which isdisposed in an outer housing or covering with the insert being soarranged to receive an electric heating coil in the interior theerofwhereby after the heating coil has been excited for a predeterminedperiod of time, the heat from the heating coil does not pass the outerhousing for a further predetermined period of time, thereby allowing thehair curler to be employed before the outer surface heats up and thustreats the hair entrained about the particular hair curler.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler whichmay be safely and eiciently heated in a minimal period of time.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a roller curler foruse in setting hair that may be electrically heated by simply plugginginto a suitable device, and which is provided with a thermostaticallycontrolled safety means for insuring against the possibility ofoverheating the roller curler.

vIt is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler whichmay be safely and eiiiciently heated in a minimal period of time, whichwill retain the heat.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a roller curler foruse in setting hair that may lbe electrically heated by simply plugginginto a suitable device, and which is provided with a thermostaticallycontrolled safety means for insuring against the possibility ofoverheating the roller curler, which will retain heat afterdisconnection.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in theprovision of a roller curler that is simple in construction, strong anddurable, capable of being manufactured out of readily availablematerials, yet which may be utilized and employed in conventional hairsetting procedures and which will better condition the hair for aparticular styling by employing the providing optimum amounts and degreeof heat for a predetermined amount of time.

These, together with the Various ancillary objects and features of theinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by these roller curlers, preferred embodimentsbeing shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, where-1n:

FIG. l is an exploded vertical sectional view of a hair curler andenergizing appliance utilized in accordance with the concepts of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the roller curler looking in thedirection of line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical sectional view of a modied form of theinvention; and,

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the hair curler looking in the directionof line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, 'wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 generally designates a preferred embodiment of theinvention, which includes two main portions, an energizing appliance 12and a roller curler, generally designated at 14. The roller curler 14includes an outer housing 16 provided with cylindrical side walls 18, anupper end wall or top 20 integral with the side walls and a lower sleeveportion 22 which extends below a ceramic insert 24 securely disposedwithin the housing 16.

The insert 24 is of a refractory material, preferably formed of aceramic or porcelain-like material, and is provided with a pair of bores26 and 28 therethrough disposed centrally and well inwardly from theouter surface of the ceramic insert 24 and which communicate with eachother by means of a groove 30. A Nichrome heating element 32 is disposedin the bores 26 and 28 and the groove 30 is of a substantially U-shape.Disposed between the ceramic insert 24 and the top 20 is an insulativedisc 34 which is formed of ceramic material or other refractory typematerial or of a suitable heating insulative and electrically insulativematerial. The ends of the Nichrome heating coil 32 are connected throughconductors 36 and 38 to a disc type thermostat 40 of conventionalconstruction. A phenolic cap 44 holds the disc thermostat 40 and all ofthe other parts in place within the housing 18 and has a pair of pins 46and 48 embedded therein during molding and electrically connected in anysuitable way such as by conductors 49 and 51 to the disc thermostat 40.The pins are entirely contained within the sleeve portion 22 of thehousing 16 and are adapted to be inserted in openings 50 and 52 in araised receptacle 54 connected in any suitable manner through anelectrical cord 56 and an outlet plug 58 to a suitable source ofelectric power. The receptacle is of such a size that the sleeve portion22 snugly fits thereover, preventing the possibility of electric shockoccurring to the user.

'In use, the hair curler 14 is disposed into engagement with thereceptacle 54 for approximately 25 seconds` at which time the discthermostat 40 will open the circuit. However, the heat supplied by theNichrome heating element 32 will take a period of approximately 30seconds to pass from the center of the ceramic insert 24 to the outersurface of the housing 16 so that for approximately one-half a minute,the hair curler 14 is convenient and comfortable to hold. After the haircurler has been inserted in the hair, it will give off an optimum amountand degree of heat for hair setting.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4, reference numeral 110 generally designates this form of theinvention which includes an exciting device generally indicated at 112as well as a roller curler generally indicated at 114.

The roller curler 114 includes a housing 116 having cylindrical sidewalls 118, a top 120, and a lower sleeve portion 122. An insert 124 isdisposed within the housing 116 and is hollow for reception of a casingof perforated metal 126 Within which Nichrome heating coil 132 and athermostat 140 in series with the heating coil 132 is located.

In this form of the invention a single pin 146 recessed within thesleeve portion 122 and which the heating coil 132 is connected isprovided for insertion into the opening 150 in the receptacle 152provided on the exciting device 112, the pin 146 being recessed withinthe sleeve 122 so as to eliminate the possibility of shock. This form ofthe invention operates in substantially the same manner as the form ofthe invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that ceramic material utilized is of a nature aswill hold the heat which is transmitted therethrough for a period oftime as will be sui-licient to eiectuate the curling of the hair.

In use the preheated hair curler will be positioned on the head of theuser and the hair will be wound around the curler after which asecurement clip or band, not shown, Will be inserted to maintain thehair about the clip.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

We claim:

1. A hair curler comprising an outer electrically nonconductive hollowhousing having a closed upper end including a sleeve portion disposed atits lower end, an

insert of refractory material disposed in and substantially lling saidhousing, a heating coil within'said insert, electrical connection meansfor connecting said heating coil to a source of power, said heating coilbeing substantially centrally disposed in said insert so that therefractory material thereof will delay heating of said housing for apredetermined period of time, a portion of said connection means beingdisposed within said `sleeve portion, and thermostatic electric controlmeans disposed in said housing and electrically operatively connected incircuit between said heating coil and said connection means forcontrolling the amount of electrical power passing to said heating coil.

2. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said thermostatic controlmeans compresses a disc thermostat disposed between said insert and saidconnection means, said connection means including a disc of electricallyinsulative material having a pair of contact pins embedded therein, saidconnection means being disposed immediately adjacent said thermostatwith said pins being disposed within said sleeve portion.

3. A hair curler according to claim 2, including a plate of electricallyand heat insulative material disposed between said insert and saidhousing and overlying said heating coil.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,193 6/1926 Schmitz 132-331,641,353 9/1927 Opper et al. 1,901,892 3/1933 Bjorkman et al. 132-331,941,439 12/1933 Lewis 132-33 1,995,618 3/1935 Lakenbach 219-222 X2,060,102 11/1936 Moseley 132-34 1,779,905 10/1930 Dinger 132-361,927,001 9/1933 Lewis 219-222 2,394,973 2/1946 Bergen 132-37 X2,811,629 10/1957 Danner 219-523 3,250,895 5/1966 McNair 219-2223,257,541 4/ 1966 Jorgensen 219-222 FOREIGN PATENTS 98,026 2/ 1964Denmark. 629,387 7/ 1927 France.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

